This article places the work of folklore collector and poet Padraig O Mileadha in the wider context of the twentieth century national folklore project and the community perspective on seanchas and folklore. O Mileadha offers an interesting case study of a folklore collector (the objectified modernist) who also has a personal and professional interest in the material over and above the call of duty. O Mileadha offers a rich source for the study of folklore as a valued resource in a community context, a view considerably richer and more valuable than than of the Victorian hobbyist.